In early May, to mark the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025 held in Vietnam, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha dispatched a delegation to India to ceremoniously bring the Buddha’s relic to Vietnam.

On May 2, the relic arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport and began a journey of enshrinement and public veneration, starting at Thanh Tam Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City, then continuing to Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh, Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi, and Tam Chuc Pagoda in Ha Nam.

Initially intended to remain for a limited period, the stay of the Buddha’s relic - considered a national treasure of India - was extended upon request from the Vietnamese government. The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, in cooperation with the Government Committee for Religious Affairs and local authorities, continued to escort and enshrine the relic at Bai Dinh Pagoda (Ninh Binh), Phuc Son Pagoda (Bac Giang), Truc Lam Yen Tu Palace (Quang Ninh), Chuong Pagoda (Hung Yen), and Quan The Am Pagoda (Da Nang).

The relic remained in Vietnam for a full month, offering a rare and spiritually meaningful opportunity for millions of people to witness and worship a sacred symbol of the Buddha.

Most Venerable Thich Hue Thong, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council and head of the delegation that brought the relic from India, shared his thoughts in an interview with VietNamNet before the relic’s return to India on June 2 at 2:00 PM.

“I felt as if I were kneeling before the Buddha”

What were your personal feelings during the one-month journey of the Buddha’s relic from India to Vietnam?

I was deeply honored to be chosen as head of the delegation, alongside senior monks from the Office of the Central Sangha, to travel to the National Museum of India and receive the relic to bring home for the Vesak celebration in Ho Chi Minh City.

Emotion overwhelmed me - a sacred and indescribable feeling - when I was able to kneel in reverence and perform such a deeply spiritual ceremony. It felt like a once-in-a-lifetime blessing.

A second wave of emotion swept over me when the Indian aircraft landed at Tan Son Nhat Airport, where the Supreme Patriarch, the Chairman of the Executive Council, high-ranking Sangha officials, and government representatives were all present at the tarmac to greet the relic. At that moment, I truly felt I was kneeling before the Buddha. As the sutras say, “It is rare to be born human, rarer still to encounter the Dharma, and rarest to form true faith.” I felt incredibly blessed throughout the relic’s journey.

How do you evaluate the organization of the enshrinement of the relic across multiple provinces and cities?

Buddhism has been present in Vietnam for over 2,000 years, and the image of the Buddha is deeply rooted in the Vietnamese spiritual consciousness. That is why, in all three regions of the country, wherever the relic was enshrined, the local communities demonstrated immense reverence through carefully arranged rituals, decorations, and welcoming ceremonies.

What I witnessed was a sea of devotion - both among monastics and lay followers, as well as non-Buddhists who were drawn by faith or cultural connection. All of them contributed to a beautiful spiritual landscape that embodied Vietnamese respect and veneration for the Buddha’s relic.

“The Buddha’s energy will radiate, bringing great benefit”

In your view, what are the cultural, spiritual, and diplomatic implications of bringing the Buddha’s relic to Vietnam for Vesak 2025?

This year’s Vesak theme highlighted compassion, human dignity, peace, and sustainable cooperation - values closely tied to the Buddha’s teachings on loving-kindness and the well-being of all humanity.

The relic’s presence during Vesak amplified these ideals, inspiring reverence and spreading the Buddha’s universal message of compassion and forgiveness.

At a time when the world is in great need of empathy and harmony, the enshrinement of the relic symbolized a powerful call for peace and understanding. It elevated Buddhism’s value and promoted cultural diplomacy between participating nations.

Do you have any advice or messages for Buddhists after this significant event?

From May 2 to June 2, millions of people from across the country came to pay homage to the relic. The combination of meaningful rituals and mindful practice will leave a lasting spiritual impression.

When venerating the relic, devotees are as if in the presence of the Buddha himself. I encourage everyone to embody his teachings of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. By practicing these in daily life and sharing them with others, we help spread the Buddha’s energy far and wide, creating great benefit for all.

From the Sangha’s perspective, what lessons can be drawn from this experience for organizing future international Buddhist events?

The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has a strong record of global engagement, having successfully hosted the United Nations Day of Vesak four times - in 2008, 2014, 2019, and now in 2025. Additionally, the Sangha has participated in numerous international Buddhist events to strengthen global cooperation.

Integrating Vietnamese Buddhism into the global community is a vital spiritual mission. The recent success of hosting Vesak and organizing the enshrinement of the relic marks a major milestone in our efforts to share Vietnam’s Buddhist values worldwide. It lays a strong foundation for cultural exchange and international engagement with the global Buddhist community.

From this experience, we will continue to draw lessons and build capacity to host similar large-scale spiritual and cultural events. This is one of the important missions of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, now and in the future.

Dang Huy